Please help identify S&W .22 revolver ... Great Grandfathers Attic Find

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KnightTime

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I read through the sticky posts regarding assistance in identifying an old S&W revolver. I am usually pretty good at following instruction but please forgive any error! Many thanks for any assistance in identifying this just discovered family heirloom!

as per the sticky post instructions

1. Hand Ejector
2. Butt Serial Number 412040
3. 22 Long CTG
4. 4" barrel
5. Fixed Sights


Other info:
6 shot
Nickel finish
Yoke # 32675
Barrel bottom: under ejector rod # 412040
Barrel Top: Smith&Wesson Springfield Mass. USA
Patented Febx 08 Sept1x 09 Decx9 14

Appreciate any assistance!
Charlie
 

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That's actually a .32 caliber revolver, not .22. It is called a .32 Hand Ejector, third model. The serial number indicates it was produced around 1925.

The stocks on the gun are from somewhat later -- early 1950s, I think. And if you measure the barrel carefully, I think you will find it is 4.25" long. That was one of the standard lengths for this particular model. You measure from the front face of the cylinder to the muzzle.
 
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I would bet that your great-grandfather had a lot of fun shooting that old-timer. I wouldn't worry about the scratches & bruises. Forum members would call that gun a "shooter". That is NOT a derogitory term. Get it checked out, and try to find some ammo for it. That's what gramps would probably want.
 
David gave you good information on your .32 HE (he usually does!).
I agree with Mike in his suggested course of action. The good news is that .32 Long ammo isn't that difficult to obtain. Even through the recent shortage, I've been seeing some of it around.
Regards,
Jack
 
I really appreciate the quick response and good info. I think my aging eyes , the worn numbers and the word Long on the barrel made think it was a 22! I was so excited to find it! I do remember my Dad and him shooting it as a child in the swamps around New Orleans. I didn't know .32 had any various lengths like .22 and thought it was all the same. It definitely is a shooter and will get a good cleaning and light oiling. I reload 9mm and .380 and it seems like a new die set might be "required"!

Thank for the help ... Much appreciated
Charlie
 
The 32 Long brass and bullets are readily available. I just loaded up a bunch of 85gr LRN with a cat sneeze worth of Bullseye. This is really fun caliber to shoot.
 
The .32 Long is an easy round to reload. 2.2 grains of Bullseye works for me with a 85 grain lead bullet.
 
32 long brass

Does anyone have source for .32 long brass new or fired? Web search turns up all out of stock
 
I have a non-nickeled plated one like that. I've dated it to 1912.

Imagine guys, these guns were there when bi-planes still ruled the skies.

Small sights but the guns tend to shoot on. I have found Hornady LSWC .32 slugs work very well.
 
Brass

It was an awesome rebirth of 90 year old solid S&W shooter. I did clean very well, and to dissemble it couldn't be simpler. It took forever as I cleaned and very lightly polished the piece ... it was funky and very dirty. Lots of holster rash but it cleaned quite nice. I made a few other discoveries in the bag too ... Several other old pistols and revolvers and Lots to research for sure.

Midway is one I didn't look at since I was hoping for some once fired grade 2 minimum brass, but I gather most places are out of stock. I have a bullet mold for .32 for 89gr RN and would rather load lighter loads to test safely.
 
KnightTime said:
I didn't know .32 had any various lengths like .22 and thought it was all the same.
Click to expand...

Hi Charlie
As far as S&W revolvers go, there were (are) two: the .32 Smith & Wesson and the .32 S&W Long. The former was a carry-over from the black powder days and is sometimes (mainly by Europeans) referred to as the .32 Short. That's actually a misnomer because the .32 Short was a rimfire black powder round introduced by S&W in 1860 that is no longer available (as in, it is obsolete). The .32 S&W was introduced in 1878 and saw service all the way into the smokeless era and was chambered by S&W in top break revolvers until those guns went out of production around 1920. The .32 S&W Long showed up in 1896, when S&W introduced its first hand ejector. It is still around and there have been millions of guns produced to shoot it. Until relatively recently it was the standard .32 caliber revolver round. The .32 H&R Mag and the even newer .327 Magnum were developments of this cartridge.
There actually was another .32 caliber revolver cartridge (originally a rifle round) that was chambered in S&W revolvers. It is the .32 Winchester (W.C.F.) or .32-20. S&W made a line of revolvers for this cartridge in the K frame size (bigger than your I frame). It was produced from 1899 until about 1931, although it remained in the S&W catalog until 1940.
Probably more than you wanted to know, but there you are.
Jack
 
32HE info

Wow ... That is more info than Wikipedia on the history of the .32 S&W! Great stuff thanks,
My only exposure to .32 was my fathers carry snub nose 5 shot ? S&W. I never shot it and it ended up in my brothers collection which was stolen in a home burglary. I did get some .32 brass ordered and will cast some lead this week. I'm really looking forward to putting some rounds through my newest oldest gun. I prefer smaller caliber handguns the older I get ... the big boom of my .44 mag just is starting to hurt more than the thrill! Thanks to everyone for the info, ammo sources and assistance.
Charlie
 
KnightTime,

Let me add to the general info here by saying that if you are already loading 9 mm and 380 ("9mm Kurz or short") you are going to find the 32 S&W Long to be a joy... for one thing you don't have to chase down your brass and find it in the grass, and for another, it just handles and loads easily in your press. I've even loaded it with a 310 Tool. Your little round nosed 85 grain mould will be a good place to start and there are lots of good recommendations for powder charges available online from the powder manufacturers. I like Bullseye™ and to a lesser degree Unique™ from Alliant for mine and try to avoid "hot rod" loads in deference to the age of the guns. Congratulations on a great acquisition and I hope you will enjoy loading for it and shooting it while connecting with the past in your family as well.

Regards,
Froggie

PS If you stumble across some 32 S&W ("short") ammo, it will work just as well, but like with 22 short in a LR chamber, be sure to clean out the ring of powder fouling at the shorter case mouth area of the chambers.
 
The gun is missing one screw (.32HE), the one on the top of the sideplate near the hammer. It is slightly larger than the other three screws on the body based upon the pictures I've found of other third model I-frames. (Thanks to David I half sound like I know what I am describing).
A 4-40 machine screw is a hair too large or the threads are different and a 3-56 is too small in diameter. Any suggestions on what it is I need and a source for this screw?
Thanks
Charlie
 
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The Gun Parts Corporation (NUMRICH).
and Sarco are two.

And there are others. Just google 'S&W gun parts' and many a website will show up.
 
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